Doe Bay Resort: The Ultimate Orcas Island Reset

Sometimes the best way to reconnect is to disappear, just for a little while.

Tucked along the quiet eastern edge of Orcas Island, far from the ferry lines and cell service, Doe Bay Resort & Retreat is one of those rare places that feels like a well-kept secret passed from friend to friend. It’s rustic, rejuvenating, and rich in everything the city can’t offer: starlit silence, salty air, and a sense that you’ve stepped entirely outside of time.

And with Kenmore Air’s Fly & Stay Package, getting there is easier than ever. You’ll skip the I-5 crawl and ferry wait, trading it for a 40-minute direct flight from Seattle’s Boeing Field to Eastsound and landing just a short drive from the resort. In return? More time to soak in the tubs, explore the coastline, sip local wine, and reconnect with whatever you’ve been missing.

Here’s how to spend an unforgettable weekend away at Doe Bay.

Day 1: Arrival & Immersion

2:00 PM – Wheels Up with Kenmore Air

Your journey begins not with a traffic jam, but with takeoff.

Kenmore Air Express flights depart from Boeing Field just south of downtown Seattle, with complimentary parking and streamlined check-in that feels more boutique than airport. After a scenic 40-minute flight over the San Juans – complete with views of Mt. Baker, emerald islands, and ferry wakes below – you’ll touch down at Eastsound Airport and start your Orcas adventure on island time.

From here, it’s a short drive over to Doe Bay. The moment you arrive, the change in pace is instant. Wildflowers line the gravel paths. The wind smells like seaweed and cedar. And the Wi-Fi politely bows out (should you choose).

Pro tip: Book your stay through Kenmore Air’s Fly & Stay Package to receive 30% off accommodations, 10% off flights, and a complimentary spa session – plus a $50 credit to the Doe Bay Café or General Store.

2:00 PM – Lunch at Doe Bay Café

A visit to Doe Bay isn’t complete without a meal at the Doe Bay Café, which takes farm-to-table to its literal roots. Much of what’s served here is grown on the resort’s onsite organic garden.What isn’t is sourced locally, whether it’s greens from Orcas Farm, seafood from nearby waters, or wine from the islands.

Expect nourishing, unfussy plates like veggie grain bowls, fresh halibut tacos, or house-made granola with yogurt and local berries. Sit outside if the weather allows. The café’s deck offers a postcard-worthy view of the bay, especially when the tide is out and herons are hunting along the shore.

4:00 PM – Settle In & Breathe Out

Doe Bay’s accommodations are charmingly off-grid, ranging from canvas-roofed yurts to cedar cabins and waterfront domes. Some have kitchens and private decks; others lean rustic with woodstoves and bunk beds. No matter where you land, every path eventually leads to the sauna, the soaking tubs, and the bay beyond.

Drop your bags, step out of your shoes, and walk the mossy trails down to the beach. The rocky shoreline is scattered with driftwood and tidepools and the best seat in the house might just be a smooth boulder warmed by the sun.

4:30 PM – Spa Time & Soaking Tubs

With your complimentary session included in the package, now’s the perfect time to unwind.

Doe Bay’s clothing-optional soaking tubs are tucked into a cedar grove above the shoreline, overlooking the water with one of the most tranquil views you’ll ever find. Hot, mineral-rich water cycles through the tubs and cedar sauna, open to the elements but protected by trees and privacy screens.

It’s a space that invites stillness. No phones. No chatter. Just steam, waves, and the occasional eagle circling overhead.

6:30 PM – Sunset & Wine at the Beach Firepit

Before dinner, grab a blanket and your favorite bottle (you can use your $50 resort credit at the General Store if you didn’t bring one), and make your way to the community firepit or driftwood-strewn shoreline. As the sun dips behind the outer islands, the bay reflects every shade of copper and rose gold. On clear nights, the Milky Way makes a cameo.

It’s the kind of simple magic that only happens when you give yourself the space to notice.

7:30 PM – Dinner at the Café

Yes, we’re sending you back to the Doe Bay Café…it’s just that good.

The dinner menu rotates seasonally and leans creative. Think grilled king salmon over spring risotto, or roasted carrots with chimichurri and polenta. The wine list favors the Northwest, and the vibe is candlelit and communal. You might share a long table with other guests, or snag a quiet window seat for two.

There’s no rush here. And no dress code. Your hoodie and sandals will do just fine.

Day 2: Hike, Sip, Explore

8:00 AM – Morning Yoga or a Slow Start

Start the day with a yoga session in the community studio, if available, or take a solo stretch on the bluff above the bay. Or just sleep in. This is your getaway, after all.

Brew some coffee in your cabin, crack the window, and listen to the island wake up. Birds. Wind. Maybe a few laughing seals out in the water.

9:30 AM – Breakfast with a View

Back at the café, breakfast is laid-back and hearty. Locals make it a regular stop for the rotating seed-to-table menu. Enjoy the delicious bites and plan the rest of your day around nothing or everything.

11:00 AM – Explore the East Side

You’re on Orcas Island, and while Doe Bay can be all-consuming in the best way, the surrounding area is worth a few hours of exploration.

Drive down to Obstruction Pass State Park, where a short trail leads to one of the island’s most secluded beaches. Or hike up Mt. Constitution in Moran State Park if you’re craving a panoramic challenge, just don’t forget water and layers.

For something truly unique, swing by Orcas Island Artworks in Olga, a historic co-op gallery filled with pottery, prints, and hand-crafted goods by local artists.

2:00 PM – Casual Lunch or Spa Round Two

On your way back toward Eastsound, take a scenic detour through Olga and stop for lunch. Two can’t-miss options:

• Lascaux Café, a refined yet casual spot offering seasonal French-Mediterranean-inspired plates using locally sourced ingredients.
• Buck Bay Shellfish Farm, where you can enjoy freshly shucked oysters, steamed clams, and crab right by the water.

Both offer a delicious way to close out your trip with a true taste of Orcas.

3:30 PM – Wine & Wandering

From Olga, head northwest for a quick stop at Orcas Island Winery, the island’s first and only winery. Grab a tasting flight and sip under the shadow of Turtleback Mountain in an adirondack chair or kick back on a comfy couch in their airy tasting barn. Their natural wines pair beautifully with the pastoral setting – earthy, bright, and distinctly Northwest.

Afterward, roll into Eastsound for one last stroll through town. Pick up a new read at Darvill’s Bookstore, browse locally made ceramics at Forest Ceramic, or stock up on luxe home goods to take home from Material Wit.

6:30 PM – Dinner at Houlme

Cap your last full day with a reservation at Houlme, a cozy yet elevated restaurant (James Beard Award nomination in 2025) tucked just off the main drag in Eastsound. The modern American menu leans Mediterranean with an island twist – but you also can’t go wrong ordering their delicious specialty pizza. The service is unpretentious, the plating is artful, and the mood is relaxed but refined.

Day 3 – Pack Up & Slow Down

8:00 AM – One Last Stop…

On your way to the airport, stop by Brown Bear Baking in Eastsound for coffee and something warm from the oven. Their almond croissants are legendary, the quiche is decadent, and the sourdough loaves make great gifts (if they survive the trip home).

Grab your pastry, sip your espresso, and breathe in one last moment of island air before you head out.

10:00 AM – Back in the Sky, But Not the Same

On the flight back to Seattle, you’ll relish the incredible aerial panorama over the San Juans and something in you will feel just a little lighter, clearer, slower. Like the island gave you something you didn’t know you needed.

And maybe that’s the point.

Book Your Escape

With Kenmore Air’s exclusive Fly & Stay Package to Doe Bay Resort, your next great escape is just 40 minutes away. The package includes:

• 10% off round-trip Kenmore Air Express flights from Seattle (Boeing Field) to Eastsound
  
• 30% off accommodations at Doe Bay Resort
  
• Complimentary spa session (private or communal)
  
• $50 resort credit per person for the Doe Bay Café or General Store